Sign-flasher.



0 D. ZIEGLE R.

SIGN FLASHER.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 16, 1912.

. 1 ,1 83 A1 8, Patented May 16, 1916.

3 SHEETS-SHEET I.

O. D. ZIEGLER.

SIGN FLASHER.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 1 191 2.

Patented May 16,1916.

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0'. D. ZIEGLER.

SIGN FLASHEB.

APPLICATION FILED MAR- 16, 1912.

Patented May16,1916.

3 SHEETSSHEET 3.

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OLIVER D. ZIEGLIER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

SIGN-FLASHER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 16, 1916.

Application filed March 16, 1912. Serial No. 684,230.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, OLIVER D. ZIEGLER, acitizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, county of Cook, andState of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inSign-Flashers, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to a sign flasher of the form intended forintermittently closing one or more electrical circuits. These circuitswill ordinarily be electric circuits which convey current to or fromelectric light Signs, although manifestly the device of the presentinvention might be used to energize or intermittently close electriccircuits for other purposes.

The invention relates more particularly to a sign flasher of thecontinuously rotating drum typethat is, the type in which a drum or alike element is continuously rotated by means of a motor or other likedevice.

The main objects of the invention are to provide a construction in whichthe moving contacts may be easily adjusted or changed for the purpose ofadjusting or changing the order in which several circuits will be openedand closed, or to change the interval during which they remain opened orclosed. More particularly it is intended to provide a permanent drum orthe like on which the several contacts are mounted, and then to providea construction such that these several contacts can be easily adjustedon the drum or replaced by new contacts of the same or differentlengths.

Another object of the invention is to form the contacts and brushes insuch a manner that each circuit will close with a large and perfectcontact, thereby lessening the tendency to burn and wear by reason ofthe fact that a greater cooling area is presented, being an area of suchsize that any sparking will be broken up into a large number ofrelatively small arcs; and for a similar purpose to construct the partsin such a way that each circuit will be quickly and perfectly brokenwith a long break. This is a particularly desirable result to attain soas to prevent burning and arcing.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel form of supportfor the brushes or other contacting devices whereby a perfect insulationof the parts is secured and whereby a solid and firm support isprovided. Also whereby the several brushes or contacting devices can beremoved simultaneously from the frame of the machine.

Other objects and uses will appear from a detailed description of theinvention which consists in the features of construction and combinationof parts hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 shows a plan view of a flasher embodying thefeatures of my invention and provided with four sets of contacts forintermittently supplying four circuits; Fig. 2 shows a vertical sectionthrough the drum and contacts of the machine of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 shows across-section through the machine of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 shows a detailsection of the brush holder; Fig. 5 shows an enlarged detail of thegripping member whereby each brush is secured to the insulating block,the gripping member being loosened; and Fig. 6, shows a view similar tothat of Fig. 5, the gripping member being tightened.

1n the drawings, a main shaft 7 is mounted to rotate freely in bearings8 and 9 of the frame. These may be properly lubricated as by means ofoil cups 10. The shaft has secured to it the main gear 11 which may bedriven in any suitable manner, as by means of the motor 12 driving ajack-shaft 13 which carries a pinion 14 meshing with the main gear. Thisjack-shaft carrying the pinion 14 is mounted to rotate freely inbearings 15 and 16 of the frame.

The frame comprises a bearing of end pieces 17 and 18 which aresupported on angles 19 and 20 in the construction illustrated. Across-piece 21 on each end of the frame, best shown in Fig. 3, providesthe bearings 8 and 9 for the main shaft 7.

Between the bearings and mounted on the main shaft are a pair of webs,or spiders, 22, which are insulated from the shaft by insulating sleeves23 and are secured to the shaft by means of set screws 24 which pressdown onto the insulating sleeves so as to press them against the shaft.In this manner a solid and firm connection is established between the.webs, or spiders, and shaft, but at the same time they are insulatedfrom the shaft. A pair of insulating disks 25 are placed on the shaftbetween the webs, or spiders, and the bearings of the frame. Theseprevent any electrical contact between the webs, or spiders, and theframe, so that the webs. or spiders, are perfectly insulated from everyportion of the frame.

The webs, or spiders, carry a perforated drum which, in the constructionillustrated, comprises two semi-circular halves 26 and 27, each of whichis secured to the webs, or spiders, at a number of points by means ofcountersunk screws or the like 28. The drum has secured to its peripherya number of contacts 29 which line up with the corresponding brushes ofthe electrical circuits which are to be controlled. These contacts areadjustably mounted on the drum so that they can be shifted angularlyover its surface. For accomplishing this result, I have illustrated oneconstruction. To this end the drum is provided with peripheral slots 30through which may be passed screws or the like which secure the contactsto the drum. As a simple means of securing this connection, and for areason to be presently disclosed, each contact is preferably U shaped,as shown in Fig. 3. It has the radial legs 31, the lower ends of whichare flanged out as at 32 to receive the tap screws or the like, 33.These tap screws extend through the corresponding slot 30 and receix ethe nuts 3% on their inner ends. By means of this construction ascrew-driver may be engaged into the tap screws, which have their headson the exterior of the drum, so that they can be very readily reachedfor purposes of adjustment and the like. Obviously, to adjust anyone ofthe contacts, either forward or back, on the drum, it is only necessaryto loosen up the corresponding tap screws and then slide the drum in theone direction or the other. In case it were desired to substitute a newcontact either for replacement or-repair, or for the purpose of makinguse of a longer or shorter contactor, then the tap screws could becompletely unthreaded from their respective nuts and thus disengagedfrom the drum. As a matter of construction, the slots 30 do notcompletely encircle the drum, as that would sever it into a number ofsections. It is only necessary that the slots should partly encircle thedrum, leaving connecting webs in the drum between the consecutiveportions of each circular slot.

In order to supply current to the drum, I provide one contact 35 whichcompletely encircles it. This contact is adapted to make electricalconnection with the brush which supplies current to'the drum, and thusto electrify the drum contactors.

I provide a brush or the like for each electrical circuit which is tobecontrolled by the flasher. In the construction illustrated, thesebrushes are of flexible material, such as copper leaves, backed up witha strip of bronze or the like. They are supported on an insulating block36 which is carried by the outstanding arms 37 and 38 of the end piecesof the frame. For this purpose these arms are provided with holes whichreceive the ends of the insulating block, and set screws 39 may beforced against the block or metal sheets 40 for securing a firmmechanical connection. Each of the brushes 41 rests across the face ofthe insulating block and is secured to the same by a U-shaped clamp 42.The latter has its downwardly depending arms 43 and ll perforated sothat the brush can be slipped through them and said arms extend down bythe sides of the insulating block. A screw or the like 45 draws the armstogether below the block as is shown in Fig. 6. It is found byexperience that when the arms are tightly clamped together in thismanner they will tend to pull down so as to firmly press the brushesdownagainst the upper surface of the insulating block. Therefore, thisform of clamp performs two functions in that it clamps the brush downagainst the upper surface of the insulating block, and in that it firmlygrips the block so as to prevent a sidewise movement thereon. Theelectric conductor which leads to the circuit being controlled by anygiven brush may be secured to the lower end 46 of the downwardlydepending arm H of the corresponding clamp.

From the construction just described, it will be seen that the entireset of brushes can be removed from the flasher by simply loosening upthe set screws 39 and then slipping the insulating block endwise untilone end can be disengaged from the corresponding arm of the frame.

I have provided means for limiting the return movement of the brushesunder their spring action. For this purpose I have provided a crossblock 47 of insulating material which extends through holes, oropenings, in the end pieces of the frame at a point below the brushes. Alayer of felt or the like, 48, may be provided along the upper surfaceof the block 47 to form a cushion against which the brushes will fallunder their spring action." Set screws 49 acting on metal blocks 50serveto clamp the insulating block and felt layer in place. Now, it waspreviously stated that there was an additional reason for forming eachcontactor with the radial legs 31. This is for the purpose of securing abetter contact between each brush and its contactors at the instant ofclosing the circuit. The insulating blocks 36 and 47 are so mounted thatwhen the brushes lie in their natural position the radial legs of thecontactors will make a flat and even contact with the under surface ofthe brushes as the drum rotates over in the direction of the arrow inFig. 3. Thus a very perfect contact is made, and burning is reduced to aminimum. The burning is reduced, among other reasons, because of thefact that a large cooling area is provided, so that whatever heat may begenerated by an are at the instant of contact will be rapidlydissipated. Furthermore, the radial legs 31 sustain the brushes at sucha distance from the drum during the interval of electric contact that atthe instant each contactor rides from beneath its brush the latter candrop a considerable distance before arrested by the cross-piece 47, thusproviding'a large and instantaneous break.

I do not limit myself to the construction herein shown and described,except as called for in the claims, but I include within the scope of myinvention any equivalent construction or constructions for accomplishingsimilar or like results.

' I claim:

1. In a device of the class described, the combination of a rotarymember, a contactor outstanding from the periphery of the member andhaving its forward end substantially flatfand a brush flexibly mountedin position to squarely engage the flat end of said contactor as themember rotates, substantially as described.

2. In a device of the class described, the combination of a rotarymember, a contactor outstanding from the periphery of the member andhaving a substantially flat forward contacting surface, a brush flexiblymounted adjacent the member, and a stop for positioning said brush tolie in position in ad- Vance of the contactor such that the flat forwardsurface of the contactor squarely engages the brush, substantially asdescribed.

3. In a device of the class described, the combination of a rotarymetallic electric conductor drum member provided with a plurality ofcircumferential slots in the periphery thereof, means for rotatablysupporting said drum member, a plurality of segmental metalliccontactors mounted on and outof electric supply.

4. In a device ofthe. class described, the combination of a rotarymetallic electric conductor drum member provided with a plurality ofcircumferential peripheral slots, means for rotatably supporting saiddrum member, a plurality of segmental metallic contactorsmounted on andoutstanding with respect to the periphery of and in electrical contactwith the drum member, securing members in engagement with the segmentalcontactors and extending into the adjacent circumferential slot in thedrum member, for adjustably securing said segmental contactors inengagement with the circumferentially slotted portion of the rotary drummember, brushes mounted in position to engage the segmental contactors,each of said brushes being in contact with a metallic member of anelectric circuit, and a metallic electrical conductor connected with therotary metallic drum member and adapted to bile connected with a sourceof electric supp 5 The combination of a rotary electric conductor memberprovided with a circumferential slot in the periphery thereof, means forrotatively supporting said rotary electric conductor member, a segmentalme-' tallic conductor mounted on and outstanding with respect to theperiphery of and in electrical contact with said rotary conductormember, means for adjustably securing said segmental contactor inengagement with the peripherally slotted portion of said rotaryconductor member, a brush mounted in position to engage the contactorand in contact with a metallic member of an electric circuit, a metallicelectric conductor in electrical contact with the rotary electricconductor member and adapted to be connected with a source of electricsupply and insulating means interposed between said slotted rotaryelectric conductor member and its support.

6. In a device of the class described, the combination of a drum, acontactor outstanding from the periphery of the same, and havingsubstantially radial forward and rear surfaces, the forward surfaceconstituting a contacting surface, a brush flexibly mounted adjacent thedrum, and a stop for determining the initial position of said brush andfor limiting its return movement, whereby contact is initiallyestablished on the radial forward surface of the contactor, and wherebya quick break is secured when the contactor leaves the brush,substantially as described.

7. In a device of the class described, the combination of a drum, acontactor adjustably mounted on the periphery of the same and having asubstantially flat forward contacting surface, a brush flexibly mount--ed adjacent the drum, and means for supporting the end of the brush in agiven position, whereby the flat forward surface of the contactorsquarely engages the brush regardless of the position of the contactoron the periphery of the drum, substantially as described.

8. In a sign flasher, the combination of a drum mounted for rotationabout its axis, there being a plurality of peripheral slots in thesurface of the drum, a plurality of U-shaped contactors mounted on thedrum in sets, each U-shaped contactor having a forward contactingsurface, the contactors of each set lying in the same plane, meansextending through the slots for securing each contactor in desiredradial position, a le a-f brush mounted in position to engage each setof contactors, means for limiting the returning movement of the brushesunder their Spring tension, and a suitable connection to each brush,substantially as described.

9. In a sign flasher, the combination of a drum mounted for rotation, acontactor having a substantially flat forward contacting face, means forsecuring the contactor to the drum and for shifting it into desiredangular positions, a spring leaf brush mounted in position to engage thecontactor, and means for limiting the spring leaf in its returningmovement, whereby it normally stands in such position that the forwardface of the contactor Will squarely engage the lower surface of thebrush, substantially as described.

10. In a sign flasher, the combination of a drum mounted for rotationabout its axis, there being a plurality of annular slots in the surfaceof the drum, a plurality of U- shaped contactors mounted on the drum insets, each set lying in the same plane, and each contactor having aforward contacting surface, means extended through the slots forsecuring each contactor to the periphery of the drum, whereby eachcontactor can be adjusted angularly on the drum, a plurality of springleaf brushes mounted in position to engage the several sets ofcontactors, and means for limiting the said brushes in their restoringmovement, whereby they all normally lie with their forward ends insubstantially the same horizontal plane, and whereby each brush israised by the contacting of a corresponding contactor against its lowerface, substantially as described.

11. In a sign flasher, the combination of a shaft mounted for rotation,a pair of spiders mounted on said shaft, insulation interposed betweeneach spider and the shaft, a cylindrical drum secured to the spiders,there being a plurality of annular slots in the periphery of the drum, aplurality of contactors mounted on the drum in sets, means extendedthrough the slots for securing the several contactor-s in position onthe drum, a brush for establishing electrical connection from an outsidesource with the body of the drum, and a plurality of leaf brushesmounted in position to engage the several sets of contactors fortemporarily establishing electrical connection between each of saidbrushes and the drum, substantially as described.

OLIVER D. ZIEGLER. Witnesses MARY R. FROST, Tnos. A. BANNING, Jr.

